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Nationwide strike in Belgium: Transport services disrupted

Politics
1032027682

A general strike has been announced in Belgium against the austerity policies announced by the Federal government. The country has come to a halt as workers are protesting wage freeze, attacks on pension entitlements and the right to strike, cuts in public services and many more. Transport services in the country have been severely disrupted by strikes and halted all underground trains, buses and trams in Brussels. High-speed trains to France, the Netherlands and Germany were suspended, along with Eurostar services to London. The strike is the culmination of the latest series of weekly protests. The public sector movement began early last month with 100,000 people taking part in a march in Brussels that ended in clashes leaving 112 police injured. Several vehicles were set alight by protesters who also hurled stones and flares at police. About 50 people were hurt and 30 detained, officials said. Unions are opposing a decision by Charles Michel's centre-right coalition government to scrap a cost-of-living wage rise next year. They are also protesting against public sector cutbacks and plans to increase the retirement age. Mr Michel was sworn in as prime minister in October. The 38-year-old French-speaking liberal is Belgium's youngest leader since 1841.